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Dear Parents and Carers,
In the first weeks of this term our teachers have been taking time to make contact with every family, for some families the initial contact was made at the Parent Information Night. Perhaps you have already received a courtesy phone call or email. Don't forget to check missed calls and messages in case your child's teacher has left you a message!
We know that having strong collaborative relationships between home and school is so important for student wellbeing learning and engagement at school.
We want to work together to continue to build strong parent / school partnerships. We are blessed to educate your children, and we honour that you are the primary educators of your children, we know that you are the best source of knowledge about your children. For us as teachers we know your children in the setting called classroom and school.
What you say to your child about their teacher/s and school makes a difference. Thank you for your supportive comments about school and your desire to work together.
At school:
- We find times to talk with the students about things that interest them or experiences they have enjoyed.
- We listen to the students speak about an array of things about life and home and weekends and recreation....
- We edify you! We know you are doing the best job ever as parents. We tell your children that their parents are doing a great job!
- We want to work with you. Thank you for telling your child their teacher is exactly the right teacher for them.
- We want to know your goals for your child.
- We want to tell you about your child in our school setting. We know that your child at home and your child at school can sound like 2 different children!
- We want you to come to school when you can, volunteer in the canteen or with reading when you can, go on excursions when we need help.
Teaching and Learning Today we had visiting teachers and leaders from Lumen Christi Catholic College, St Joseph's Bombala and St Patrick's Cooma join with members of our staff to discuss and learn about changes to the NSW Curriculum. Curriculum experts from Catholic Education, Jamie Kemp and Jessica Colleu Terradas facilitated the day.
Blessings.
Jo
Parent engagement
Genuine parent engagement exists when there is a meaningful relationship between parents and teachers with the shared goal of maximising learning and wellbeing outcomes for students.
- Parents are generally a child’s first teacher in their early years. A large body of evidence, spanning several decades, identifies the benefits of continued parent engagement throughout schooling for student learning outcomes.
- Parent engagement has been shown to improve students’ self-esteem, school attendance, and behaviour at school. In fact, Hattie (2008) estimated that effective parent engagement could add the equivalent of 2 or 3 extra years to a child’s education.
- Parent engagement extends beyond parent involvement in volunteering at the school, to having a deliberate focus on influencing and improving learning and wellbeing outcomes. Parents are provided with ideas and strategies and are encouraged to collaborate with the school and community to strengthen partnerships and directly assist in supporting their child’s learning.
- Effective parent engagement creates authentic relationships valued by each party.
- While the mode of engagement will vary with the child’s age, stage of learning, school and teachers, it may include parents:
` being supported to understand ways to discuss learning goals and aspirations with their child
` being kept up to date with their child’s learning in the classroom and how they can support this at home
` using appropriate games to improve their child’s literacy and numeracy
` being assisted to arrange effective learning spaces for their child
` being assisted to develop effective strategies and techniques to enhance their child’s wellbeing
At St. Pat's we invite all parents, grandparents, carers and friends to volunteer in our school. This week we welcome Jo and Dana who gave a few hours of their time to assisting in our school.
Religious Education
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday 7th March - My Body My Life 5/6 Program
Friday 17th March 12:35pm- St Patrick’s Day Mass
Thursday 6th April - Easter Liturgy (Time TBC)
Chapel Mass
Every Friday a class participates in Chapel Mass in the Church at 9:15am. Parents are welcome to join. Here are the upcoming classes:
Week 6: No Chapel Mass
Week 7: St Patrick’s Day Mass
Week 8: 5/6R & 5/6G
Week 9: 5/6Y
Engaging Families in the Parish Community - Family Masses
On the fourth Sunday of each Month Fr Adrian and the parish invite families to participate in a Family Mass at 9:30am. Students are asked to read, altar serve and do offertory. If your child/children would like to be on the roster please email Mrs Grant emma.grant@cg.catholic.edu.au
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
—Helen Keller
One in five Australians have a disability. All Australian students have rights in education.
At St Pat's we aim to work collaboratively with families and specialists to ensure students with a disability have reasonable adjustments implemented.
We wish Drew, Jordan, Chase, Eva, Mia, Henry, Will, Izzy, Arly, Archie ,Austin, Tommy and Levi good luck in Queanbeyan at the Archdiocesan swimming carnival next Tuesday.
Between now and the end of term we have two gala days for senior primary, an AFL day and a rugby league gala day. We thank these two sports for offering these 'come and have a try' days. Unfortunately the other sports in the district don't offer to run days like this. It would be great to include soccer, hockey etc but local clubs don't provide us with this avenue.
The junior primary will have an AFL clinic. This will be run at school using our school student leaders as assistants.
Individual rep sports will be advertised during the month registration is required. This is only for Senior Primary students. This IS NOT a chance to have a try or just give it a go and see. This level of sport is a pathway to NSW and Australian representation. Children who wish to trial in these sports must have at the very least represented the local district. There is a criteria that must be met at school level before names can be forwarded on to Canberra. The skill level of the children chosen in these teams is exceptional. Often 60 children or more from across our Archdioceses will turn up to trial for a sport where only 10 or 15 are selected in the final Canberra Goulburn team. The commitment, if chosen, by both the child and the parents is also significant. It involves lots of travel and expense depending where the trials are, and if selected, where the following training and games are to be played.
Soccer registration for boys and girls who wish to try for the Canberra Goulburn side is in March. If you believe your child meets the criteria contact the school to register your child's interest.
Other sports coming up later in the year are diving, rugby union, golf, softball. During Term 4 touch football, cricket and basketball trial for the following year as these sports have selection during the first weeks of 2024.
If you require any information regarding sport please contact Jannene Harnett.on jannene.harnett@cg.catholic.edu.au
Jannene
Term 1 school fees have been sent to families.
Term 1 fees are due 21 March 2023, except those with direct debit arrangements.
If at any time your family is experiencing financial hardship, or if your family is in need of other support, please contact the school to organise an appointment for a confidential meeting with our Principal, Jo Scott-Pegum to discuss how the school can help support your family.
St Pat’s photo day is almost here!
We will have our school photos on Monday 13th March.
Students are required to wear full summer uniform on this day.
MSP has sent order information to all parents via Compass this week. All photo orders are through Compass, please go to the parent portal to complete your order.
For order enquiries please contact MSP.
Please email Nicole on nicole.collins1@cg.catholic.edu.au if you are available on Wednesdays at any time between 10am – 2pm.
Thank you!